Mining apparatus of the pivoted boom type



Oct. Z8, 1958 J, D.- RUSSELL.

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Patented oet. 2s, 195s MINING APPARATUS F THE PIVOTED BOM TYPE John D. Russell, Bradford Woods, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application July 5, 1949, Serial No. 102,995, now Patent No. 2,798,714, dated .luly 9, 1957. Divided and this application December 28, 1954, Serial No. 478,155

` a claims. (ci. 262.49)

This invention relates to mining apparatus and more particularly to a continuous mining apparatus for mining coal or other minerals from a solid coal seam or mine vein.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved continuous mining apparatus. Another object s to provide an improved mounting for the pivoted veinattacking and disintegrating mechanism of such an apparatus and improved means for swinging the attacking and disintegrating mechanism in vertical planes about its pivot. Yet another object is to provide an improved hydraulically operated swinging means for the pivoted veinattacking and disintegrating head embodying a novel arrangement of the hydraulic swing jacks on the head mounting. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will however hereinafter more fully appear.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 102,995, led July 5, 1949, now Patent No. 2,798,714.

` In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

`In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View, with its rearward portion broken away, of a mining apparatus in which an illustrative form of the invention is incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the mining apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in lcentral longitudinal vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View showing the bar structure in its uppermost position about its pivot.

ln this illustrative construction, as shown in the drawings, the continuous mining apparatus includes a mobile base 1, herein preferably a tractor or crawler base, having a frame 2 which has swivelled thereon at 3, to swing about an upright axis in horizontal planes with respect thereto, a horizontal supporting frame or turntable 4. The swiveled supporting frame or turntable has a horizontal portion 5 projecting forwardly in advance of the base, and guided on guiding means provided by this horizontal frame portion for back and forth movements rectilinearly relative thereto in a radial'direction relative to the swivel axis is a sliding frame or support 6, on which aswingable frame or bar structure 7 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal transverse axis at 8 to swing in vertical planes with respect thereto and to swing horizontally with the swivelled supporting frame or turntable 4`relative to the base. The vertically swingable frame or bar structure 7 extends forwardly in advance of the swivelled frame, with its pivotal axis located, when the sliding frame 6 is retracted, a substantial distance in advance of the base. The swingable frame structure 7 carries a mine vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism, generally designated 9, for detaching and disintegrating the coal or other mineral in vertical segments from a solid coal seam or mine vein. The vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9, when disposed in a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 2, has its upper limits disposed below the upper limits of the apparatus, thereby resulting in a construction which is extremely vertically compact.

Arranged substantially coaxially with the swivelot` the horizontally swinging frame is a hopper 10, which is mounted in stationary relation with respect to the base frame, and conveying means is provided for conveying material to the hopper and for discharging material from the hopper including a front receiving conveyor portion 11 on the sliding frame and a rear discharge portion 12 on the base frame. The vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 detaches the coal or other mineral `from the coal seam or mine vein, and as the mineral is detached or torn away from the free face of the vein or seam, it is moved by the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism rearwardly along the top thereol to discharge onto the front conveyor 11, which in turn discharges into the hopper 10, and the disintegrated coal or other mineral is discharged from the hopper and conveyed rearwardly ot the apparatus by the rear conveyor 12. Carried by the sliding frame 6 beneath the rearward portion of the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism is a pusher element or iioor clean-up shovel 13 for moving loose coal or other mineral which has fallen to the mine floor during the mining operation into position for loading by the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism and a portion of the loose mineral on the shovel may move rearwardly onto the front receiving portion 14 of the conveyor 11 which extends downwardly beneath the rear discharge portion of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism below the pivot of the latter, as is fully disclosed in the copending application above referred to.

A pair of motors 15 carried by the swivelled supporting frame or turntable 4 at the opposite sides of the hopper 10, serve to drive the Vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 and these motors also drive the front conveyor 11 through a transmission connection 16. Motors 17 individually drive the endless crawler treads 18 of the tractor or crawler base whereby the crawler treads may serve to propel and steer the apparatus as it travels about the mine. By swinging the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 about the swivel axis of the supporting frame or turntable 4, it may be located in diilerent radial positions relative to the base to attack and disintegrate the coal seam or mine vein in a series yof vertical segments of the working face so that the entire width of the working face may be dislodged and disintegrated in successive steps, and the front conveyor 11 is arranged to discharge into the hopper 10 in all radially adjusted positions of the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism.

Extensible hydraulic jacks 2t? serve to turn the `swivelled frame or turntable, the extensible hydraulic jacks 21 serve to move `the sliding frame rectilinearly back and forth along its guiding means which includes parallel guide members 21 l(Fig. 1), an extensible hydraulic jack 22 serves to tilt the pusher or shovel 13 and extensible hydraulic jacks 23 located laterally of the guideways may effect swing of the Vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 upwardly in vertical planes about its pivot. Since these several `hydraulic jacks are fully disclosed in the copending application mentioned above, further description thereof is herein unnecessary.

The vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 comprises a series of endless disintegrating chains 25 guided for circulation in parallel vertical orbits about the bar structure 7. The motors 15 may drive these chains through telescopic shaftings 26 and conventional speed reducing gearings, not shown, contained in housings 27 forming portions of spaced frame portions 28` of the `slid-` ing frame 6. These frame portions have curved forward surfaces, as shown in Fig. 2. A shaft 29 (Fig. 3) coaxial with the pivot of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 may be driven through the reduction gear ings and carries sprockets 30 which engage and drive the disintegrating chains. Thus the motors may drive the disintegrating chains in all positions of rectilinear movement of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism relative to the turntable frame through the telescopic shaftings 26 as is fully disclosed in the copending application referred to above.

In this improved construction the extensible hydraulic jacks 23 comprise a pair of single acting hydraulic cylinders 31 having spaced apart upstanding lugs 32 at their upper sides secured, as by bolts 33, to spaced apart depending lugs 34 integral with the spaced side portions 28 of lthe sliding frame 6. The cylinders are arranged in parallel relation at the outer sides of the pusher element for shovel 13 (Fig. 4) with their axes inclined slightly upwardly and forwardly, and reciprocable in the cylinders arev pistons 36. The pistons are pivotally connected at 36' to pitmen 37 which extend forwardly outwardly through the open front ends of the cylinders, and the front ends of the pitmen are pivotally connected at 38 to rearwardly curved depending arms 39 secured to the outer sides of the swingable frame structure 7. When the attacking and disintegrating mechanism is in lowered position on the base the curved portions of the arms 39 extend downwardly along the curved forward surfaces of and underlie the frame portions 28 With the rearward portions of said arms located rearwardly of a transverse vertical plane including the pivotal axis 8.

When `liquid under pressure is supplied to the rear ends of the cylinders 31, the pistons 36 are moved forwardly to swing the frame or bar structure 7, together with the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 carried thereby, upwardly about its pivot. By trapping liquid in the cylinders the frame structure 7 may be locked in adjusted position, and upon appropriate venting of liquid from the cylinders, the frame structure may be permitted to swing downwardly about its pivot at a controlled rate. The means for supplying liquid under pressure to and venting liquid from the cylinders 31 is fully disclosed in the copending application mentioned above.

As a result of this invention an improved continuous mining apparatus is provided having a novel mounting for the pivoted vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism together with a novel arrangement of its swinging means on the mounting. By the provision of the hydraulic jack cylinders arranged in the manner disclosed not only may a powerful upward swinging force be applied to the attacking and disintegrating mechanism, but also a structure which is extremely vertically compact is attained. The mounting for the `attacking and disintegrating mechanism and the swinging means therefor are not only compact and powerful in operation, but also simple and rugged in design, -well adapted to meet the demands of service. Other advantages will be clearly apparent `to those skilled in the art. K

`While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A mining apparatus comprising, in combination, a mobile base, a horizontal frame overlying said base, said frame carrying horizontal guiding means, a support Icarried by said frame `and guided on said guiding means for horizontal movement back and forth relative to said frame, said support having an overhanging forward portion, a mine vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism CII 4 pivotally mounted on said forward portion of said support to swing in vertical planes with respect thereto, a power device connected between said vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism and the lower portion of said support at the sides of the latter and extending below said pivot for swinging said mechanism in vertical planes about said pivot, said power device being rigidly mounted on said support beneath said overhanging forward portion thereof, and means for rigidly securing said power device to the bottom of said side portion.

2. A mining apparatus comprising a support,`aframe guided on said support for horizontal rectilinear movement and guiding means for said frame, said frame having spaced overhanging side portions projecting in advance of said support at the outer sides of said guiding means, a vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism having a frame disposed between and pivotally mounted on said side frame portions for vertical swinging movement, a floor clean-up member on said rectilinearly movable frame and extending downwardly beneath said attacking and disintegrating mechanism, and extensible power devices arranged beneath said overhanging side frame portions and mounted on the latter and means for operatively connecting said power devices to the sides of said swinging frame, said power devices extending longitudinally along the outer sides of said lloor cleanup member generally in the direction of said guiding means, land said connections including swinging elements extending forwardly and upwardly beneath said overhanging side frame portions.

3. A mining apparatus comprising a frame having spaced side portions, a vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism having a swinging frame disposed between and pivotally mounted on said side portions to swing in vertical planes, and power operated swinging means for said attacking and disintegrating mechanism incuding extensible power jacks rigidly mounted on said side portions below the latter, forwardly and upwardly extending connections between said jacks and the sides of said swinging frame, said jacks comprising hydraulic cylinders rigidly secured to the bottoms of said side frame portions and containing reciprocable pistons, said swinging frame having downwardly extending projections depending from the sides thereof, pitmen pivotally connected between said pistons and said depending projections, said downwardly extending projections being inclined downwardly and rearwardly and, when said attacking and disintegrating mechanism is in lowered position, extend beneath said side frame portions, said side frame portions having curved forward surfaces along which said projections extend.

4. In combination, a support providing parallel longitudinally extending horizontal guideways, a frame mounted on said support for movement back and forth along said guideways, said frame having spaced apart overhanging side supports located laterally beyond the sides of said guideways, a disintegrating head carrying disintegrating elements and pivotally mounted on said side supports between the latter to swing in vertical planes, said head having a frame provided with depending side arms, said side arms connected to said head frame in advance of the pivot and when said head is lowered extending downwardly below the tops. of said supports at the forward portions of the latter with the rear ends of said arms lying beneath said overhanging side supports, and extensible power jacks rigidly mounted on the bottoms of said overhanging side supports beyond the outer sides of said guideways and including reciprocable power elements operatively connected to said side arms for swinging said head about its pivot.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein floor clean-up means is carried by said first mentioned frame and extends forwardly and downwardly intermediate said power jacks with said side arms located at the sides of and extending below the top of said cleanup means.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the pivotal axis of said head lies in a transverse vertical plane which cuts through said power jacks, and said arms when said head is swung downwardly into its lowered position having their lower ends projecting rearwardly of said plane.

7. In combination, a support providing parallel longitudinally extending horizontal guideways, a fratrie mounted on said support for movement back and forth along said guideways, said frame having spaced apart side supports located laterally beyond the sides of said guideways, a disintegrating head lcarryingdisintegrating elements and pivotally mounted on said side supports between the latter to swing in vertical planes, said head having ya frame provided with depending side arms, said side arms connected to said head frame in advance of the pivot and extending downwardly below the tops of said supports at the forward portions of the latter, extensible power jacks rigidly mounted on the bottoms of said side supports beyond the outer sides of said guideways and including reciprocable power elements operatively connected to said side arms for swinging said head about its pivot, said side supports having forwardly facing curved surfaces and said arms are inclined rearwardly and extend downwardly along said curved surfaces beneath said side supports when said head is in its lowered position about its pivot.

8. A disintegrating head mechanism for a continuous miner of the type having a floor clean-up member and comprising a head frame providing a pivot at its rearward portion, swinging devices for said head trame whereby said head frame is swung in vertical planes, said head frame having guiding means for guiding a series of pali allel endless disintegrating chains in vertical orbits thereabout, and downwardly projecting arms secured to the sides of said frame in advance of said pivot and laterally of said chain-orbits, said arms extending downwardly and rearwardly into connection with said swinging devices whereby said head frame may be swung about its pivot, said arms being spaced apart and adapted to straddle said floor clean-up member with the lower portion of said arms extending downwardly at the sides of and below the top of the clean-up member when said head is in its lowered position about its pivot.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,431,857 Willcox Oct. l0, 1922 1,908,434 Madeira May 9, 1933 2,269,781 Osgood Jian. 13, 1942 2,287,230 Cartlidge Tune 23, 1942 2,415,217 Osgood Feb. 4, 1947 2,589,827 Lee Mar. 18, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 144,316 Australia Nov. 26, 1951 

